Registered Nurses Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$63,970
- 25th Percentile — Junior$75,460
- 50th Percentile — Median$81,500
- 75th Percentile — Senior$95,250
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$104,920
Half of Registered Nurses in Tennessee earn more than $81,500. The top 10% make $104,920 or more, while entry-level workers start around $63,970.
Registered Nurses in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 42nd of 51 states for Registered Nurses pay, at $85,390 per year (15.8% below the U.S. average of $101,420).
- 72,200 people work as Registered Nurses in Tennessee — 2.1% of all U.S. Registered Nurses jobs.
- Location quotient 1.01: Registered Nurses jobs are more concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $63,970; the top 10% earn over $104,920.
- Hourly equivalent: $41.05 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $150,280.
- Among healthcare jobs in Tennessee, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($408,230).
Registered Nurses Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Registered Nurses here earn $85,390 on average, placing the state 42nd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $85,390 is roughly equivalent to $97,034 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, South Carolina ($87,670), West Virginia ($86,970), Kentucky ($86,140) are the closest alternatives for Registered Nurses weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Surgeons All Other $408,230/yr Tennessee +378.1% vs this role
- Dermatologists $359,260/yr Tennessee +320.7% vs this role
- Anesthesiologists $323,070/yr Tennessee +278.3% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $312,220/yr Tennessee +265.6% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $296,570/yr Tennessee +247.3% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $284,650/yr Tennessee +233.4% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $238,020/yr Tennessee +178.7% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $218,870/yr Tennessee +156.3% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Registered Nurses salary in Tennessee?
The average Registered Nurses salary in Tennessee is $85,390 per year (median $81,500), which is 15.8% below the national average of $101,420.
How does Tennessee rank for Registered Nurses pay?
Tennessee ranks 42nd out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($150,280/yr).
How much do entry-level Registered Nurses make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Registered Nurses in Tennessee earn about $63,970 per year and the 25th percentile is $75,460.
How much do Registered Nurses make per hour in Tennessee?
About $41.05 per hour, based on the $85,390 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Registered Nurses work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 72,200 Registered Nurses jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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